Officials in Malawi say at least nine people are on the run after they were caught smuggling charcoal in a hearse, complete with a fake funeral procession.
Forestry officers acted on a tip to intercept the funeral procession at a roadblock 40 kilometers south of the commercial city of Blantyre.
Inside the hearse, they found an empty casket and about 30 large bags of charcoal packed underneath.
The suspects were briefly detained, but later escaped custody, leaving behind the impounded hearse.
Charcoal smuggling is common in the southern African country and one of the main causes of rampant deforestation although this method of transporting the illicit goods was new.
At least nine people are on the run after they were caught smuggling charcoal in a hearse, complete with a fake funeral procession, Malawi police and forestry officials said on Monday. https://t.co/16Q1TD3m4Q
— Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) February 16, 2026
